Strawberry plant named ‘CIVN260’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘CIVN260’. This new strawberry plant named ‘CIVN260’ is primarily adapted high chill growing conditions, and is primarily characterized by its plants with erect leaves and visible, easy to collect fruits; fruits with regular and conical shape; easy pollination; excellent consistency; and great taste with high sugar content and aroma.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragariaananassa Duch.

Variety denomination: ‘CIVN260’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry varietynamed ‘CIVN260’. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassaDuch.

The new strawberry ‘CIVN260’ is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventors, Michelangelo Leis and Alessio Martinelli inSan Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The objective of the breedingprogram is to develop a new strawberry variety with high resistance topowdery mildew and general resistance to leaf and root disease; fruitswith regular and conical shape; bright color; excellent consistency; andgood taste and aroma even at high temperatures.

This new strawberry ‘CIVN260’ is a result of a controlled cross made bythe inventors in 2009, in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. Thefemale or seed parent is strawberry variety designated ‘NABILA’(Patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,338). The male or pollen parent isstrawberry variety designated ‘CLERY’ (Protected, CPVO Grant No. 16743).

The new strawberry ‘CIVN260’ was discovered and selected by theinventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross in May 2011 in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy (44° 45′North and 12° 11′ East). After its selection, the new variety wasasexually propagated by stolons in a nursery located in San Giuseppe diComacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The new variety was extensively tested overthe next several years in different European area with high chillconditions. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination ofcombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivarare firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘CIVN260’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing with highchill conditions. This area provides the needed correct temperatures forflower induction and to produce a strong and vigorous plant and maintainfruit quality during fall production.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘CIVN260’, which in combination distinguishthis strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. plants with erect leaves and visible fruits;    -   2. easy to collect;    -   3. fruits with regular and conical shape;    -   4. easy to pollinate;    -   5. excellent consistency; and    -   6. great taste with high sugar content and aroma.

Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’ differ from plants of theparents, ‘NABILA’ and ‘CLERY’. in the characteristics described in Table1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with parent varieties Characteristic ‘CIVN260’‘NABILA’ ‘CLERY’ Time of ripening Very early to Medium Very early toearly early Grow habit Upright Upright Semi-upright Plant vigour StrongMedium Medium to strong Fruit size Large to very Large Large largeFirmness Strong Firm Medium Sweetness Higher Medium to Medium high

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’ is themale parent variety ‘CLERY’. Plants of the new strawberry variety‘CIVN260’ differ from plants of ‘CLERY’ in the characteristics describedin Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘CIVN260’ ‘CLERY’Grow habit Upright Semi-upright Plant vigour Strong Medium to strongFruit size Large to very large Large Firmness Strong Medium SweetnessHigher Medium

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance oftypical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’, at variousstages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with colorreproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightlyfrom the color value cited in the botanical description which accuratelydescribe the color of ‘CIVN260’. The depicted plant and plant parts ofthe new strawberry variety ‘CIVN260’ were taken in San Giuseppe diComacchio, Ferrara, Italy, and are approximately 6 to 9 months old.

FIG. 1 shows typical plants of ‘CIVN260’;

FIG. 2 shows typical leaves of ‘CIVN260’;

FIG. 3 shows typical fruits of ‘CIVN260’;

FIG. 4 shows typical flowers of ‘CIVN260’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘CIVN260’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail,depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather(temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type andlocation.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new strawberryvariety ‘CIVN260’, unless otherwise noted, taken during the 2016 growingseason in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The observations,measurements and values were taken from plants of ‘CIVN260’ dug from asea level-elevation nursery located in San Giuseppe di Comacchio,Ferrara, Italy, during January 2015 and planted approximately 7 monthslater in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. Plants of the newstrawberry variety ‘CIVN260’ were grown under conditions which closelyapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The observed plants were one year old plants. The plants used in theproduction field are produced in a nursery in San Giuseppe di Comacchio.

Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from 3years of data collected from the 2014 through 2016 growing seasons.Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowersunless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are fromsecondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), except where general colors of ordinary significance areused. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximatelynoon in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy. The approximate ageof the observed plants is about 7 months.

The following tables 3-9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage,fruiting truss, flower and pest/disease characteristics of the newstrawberry ‘CIVN260’.

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVN260’ Color of maturefruit Red group—RHS 44A Color of internal flesh Red group—RHS 42B Length(cm)   5 cm Width (cm) 3.5 cm Ratio length/width Moderately longer Calyxdiameter (cm) 1.5 cm Average weight (gm)  20 gm Achene colorYellow-green group—RHS 151A Number of achenes per cm² About 10 measuredat the center of berry Average weight of About 0.62 1000 achenes (g)Marketable yield (gm/plt) Average 834 gm/plt Size Large Predominantshape Conical Difference in shapes Slight between primary and secondaryfruit Band without achenes Medium Unevenness of surface Weak Evenness ofcolor Even or very slight uneven Glossiness Medium Insertion of achenesBelow surface Insertion of calyx Slightly raised Attitude of the calyxOutwards Size of calyx in relation to Some size or slightly large fruitdiameter Adherence of calyx Strong Firmness of skin Firm Firmness offlesh Firm Distribution of red color Uniform of the flesh Hollow centerexpression Absent or small Flavor Good taste with good aroma and sugarcontent Soluble solids (% brix) 9° Time of first flowering 28 Mar. 2016in San Giuseppe di Comacchio, Ferrara, Italy Time of first harvestingVery early to early Harvest period April to June in San Giuseppe diComacchio, Ferrara, Italy Type of bearing Not remontant

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVN260’ Height (cm) About35 to 40 cm Spread (cm) About 50 cm Size Large Habit Upright DensityMedium Vigor Medium to strong

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVN260’ Average numberper plant 8-12 Anthocyanin coloration Red group—RHS 53B Anthocyaninintensity Very low Diameter at bract (mm) 3 mm Pubescence Low

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVN260’ Foliage: Colorof upper surface Green group—RHS 137A Color of underside Green group—RHS137C Shape in cross section Concave Interveinal blistering MediumGlossiness Weak Number of leaflets 3 only Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm)About 12.5 cm Width (cm) About 10 cm Length/width ratio Moderatelylonger Serrations/leaf Overlapping Size Big Shape of base Obtuse Shapeof teeth Serrate to crenate Petiole: Length (cm) About 30 cm Diameter(mm) About 4 mm Pubescence Weak Attitude of hairs Slightly outwardsStipule: Length (mm) About 15 mm Width (mm) About 5/6 mm at the baseAnthocyanin coloration Weak Color Yellow-green group—RHS 145A

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVN260’ Length(cm) About 30 to 35 cm Attitude Erect Position relative to foliageSlightly down Pubescence Medium Anthocyanin intensity Absent or very lowAttitude at first pick From 45° to horizontal

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘CIVN260’ Petal colorMature (upper) White group—RHS 155D Mature (lower) White group—RHS 155DPetal shape Overall Round Apex Rounded Base Rounded Petal length (mm) 10mm Petal width (mm) 10 mm Petal length/width ratio Equal Number ofpetals/flower About 6 Sepals color Mature (upper) Green group—RHS 142AMature (lower) Green group—RHS 138C Sepal shape Overall Lancelolate ApexPointed Base Flat Sepal length (mm) About 10 mm Sepal width (mm) About5/6 mm Sepal length/width ratio Longer Number of sepals/flower About 12to 14 Corolla diameter (mm) About 30 mm Calyx diameter (mm) About 27 mmSize of calyx relative to Smaller corolla Size of inner calyx Some sizerelative to outer calyx Relative position of petals Free to touching

TABLE 9 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS ‘CIVN260’ shows high resistance topowdery mildew and generally to leaf and root diseases.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named‘CIVN260’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristicsset forth above.